Could this drone be flying around your building and invading your privacy in the near future?

Drones are becoming more available and can be operated by anyone who can fly a Remote Controlled plane. You may have noticed how many drones are being sold on Kickstarter, DIY Drones and Amazon, just to name a few.

In fact, CEO of California drone maker, 3D Robotics, sells about 2000 autopilot systems per month to customers around the world who want to build their own drones. He estimates that one Chinese competitor, DJI Innovations, sells at least 10 times as many drones.

From just these two companies, over 300,000 drones are being put into the skies this year alone. This is alarming!

According to Senator Feinstein on the 60 Minutes video below, the FAA has no rules to regulate the use of these smaller drones and any drone regulation will not be updated until 2015, at the earliest.

We keep seeing all sorts of stories about drones in the news. We read about near misses with aircraft and drones crashing into the ground, as happened in New York City last October and as shown in the video below.

Your Privacy

Drones are becoming more capable all the time and this is why it's alarming. They fly with payloads like still cameras, video cameras, infrared detectors, thermal detectors, among other things, and they are already being used for surveillance.

Though there are legitimate uses for domestic drones, there is still
concern about invasion of privacy and surveillance by various entities.
Groups like the ACLU are concerned about your privacy and the future of
drones in America.

Our Project

Luckily, we at Domestic Drone Countermeasures have been working on protecting your privacy from drones and cameras on drones for over a year now. In the past year, we developed hardware that can detect drones and have filed patents to safeguard our technology. The patents are currently being converted from provisional patents to full patents. You may have seen us on:

The intent of DDC's Personal Drone Detection System is not to counter military drones. They fly too high and are too sophisticated. Our intent is to keep your privacy safe from your neighbors and people you may not know who are flying small drones near your home or office. The Personal Drone Detection Systems are intended to counter small, personal drones with cameras and other sensors that are not being regulated.

The first step in countering drones is to detect them. That is why we need your help. Our first prototype detection systems are effective at identifying drones in the lab, but we need more real world testing scenarios. Below is a video of Early Testing of Prototype Systems.

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Basic Personal Drone Detection System

Prototype models of the Personal Drone Detection System

The Basic Personal Drone Detection System consists of three boxes: a Primary Command and Control Module and two Detection Sensor Nodes. These three boxes create a mesh grid network that can triangulate moving transmitters.

Triangulation of Drone Transmitters

The Primary Command and Control Module offers a simplified user interface via WiFi, such as through your tablet, smartphone or PC.

If a signal is not purposely ignored by you, then the system assumes that the rogue transmitter is hostile and alerts you to its presence within the
mesh grid. It sounds an alarm (which can be disabled) or sends a message to your tablet or smartphone. This allows the system to notify you, even if you are not home.

The software is designed to reduce false triggering as much as possible. Software updates will continue to be available in order to reduce false triggering based on field results.

The module and nodes utilize a mesh grid network that only communicates within
itself, but the Primary Command and Control Module can communicate with your personal WiFi network as an isolated device. Neither the module nor nodes extend your personal WiFi network so your personal WiFi network is not
susceptible to outside hacking or infiltration through the mesh grid.

Why it Works

The Drone Detection Grid is essentially a custom wireless mesh grid network and its advantages include:

Wireless Detection Sensor Nodes are easy to install and uninstall, making the
Detection network extremely adaptable and expandable as more or less coverage is
needed.

The Personal Drone Detection System sensor network is expandable to
include additional Detection Sensor Nodes to provide large area
coverage. Additional Sensor Detection Nodes can be purchased to
increase the size of your wireless mesh grid. This enables scaling of the
detection system automatically as described in Wikipedia here:

The Future

In order for us to continue with this project, we need your help to fund and field test the first production models. The first users are our Alpha Testers, and we really need your feedback. We are offering a deep discount for your feedback. Your help will assist us in improving the product and overcoming any hurdles. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will work closely with you to get valid results.

The 2nd generations models (Beta) will incorporate the lessons learned from the Alpha Test group and will be available after Alpha testing concludes.

Timeline

July 2014: Kickstarter concludes

November 2014: Delivery of Alpha Test Units

January 2015: Alpha Test concludes

March 2015: Incorporation of Alpha Test results concludes

April 2015: Delivery of Beta Units

May 2015: Delivery of International Beta Units

Thank you

Thank you for checking out our Kickstarter project. We will keep you all updated as the campaign progresses. For more information, please visit our website at www.ddcountermeasures.com

Risks and challenges

First of all, this patent pending technology will not become available without the support of concerned citizens like you.

As with all new technology, evolution is required. Your will system will not look like the prototypes you see here. It will have evolved into something more appropriate for the general public.

With your help, we can get the first Alpha systems into the field and tested for their overall coverage and effectiveness. A challenge is a lack of quality feedback, but we will personally assist the Alpha Testers obtain valid results.

A "drone" is any moving device within the detection grid that is transmitting telemetry (i.e.: video, sound, etc.). Our system detects all known telemetry transmission frequencies. The software attempts to determine if the moving transmitter fits the profile of a drone.

A drone must transmit back to the operator in order for the operator to control it from a remote location (i.e.: out of sight), even if it does have a GoPro attached. Drones basically transmit telemetry of some sort, even if it is not a video feed.

"Zapping" and jammers are illegal. Damaging our equipment is just as illegal as our equipment damaging a drone. Our technology does not interfere with drones at all. So far, we are just detecting its presence, and letting citizens know it is nearby. If someone wants to override our equipment, they must really want to stay hidden for some unknown and likely nefarious reason.

Yes, we have actually limited the detection range to be more appropriate for personal home use. You don't want to be detecting the entire neighborhood providing numerous false triggers. It is only interested in your personal space. In fact, 50' may be too large for your residence or apartment. That is part of what the Alpha testers will determine. Increasing detection range specifically for drones will come with software maturity and system evolution.

Rewards

$5 reward

GRATITUDE: We will add your name to our website on a supporters page. Thank you!

Estimated delivery:Jul 2014

You selected

$30 reward

1 backer

SHOW YOUR PRIDE ON YOUR BACKER: We will send you a t-shirt and a sticker showing your privacy pride.

Estimated delivery:Aug 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$139 reward

1 backer

ADDITIONAL DETECTION NODES: increase the size of your wireless mesh network. We will send you one additional Detection Node that will seamlessly integrate with your Personal Drone Detection System.

Estimated delivery:Apr 2015

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$499 reward

2 backers
Limited (48 left of 50)

ALPHA TESTER: Thank you for being the first backers! We will send you a 1st generation 3-box model of the Personal Drone Detection System and we need your feedback. We will work with you to get the Command and Control Module and 2 Detection Nodes set up and ask for your help in order to improve the whole Personal Drone Detection concept and experience. If you give us feedback, we will send you a software update when the Beta Systems go out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2014

Only ships to: United States

You selected

$699 reward

0 backers

BETA TESTER: We will send you the 2nd generation 3-box model of the Personal Drone Detection System. This model has been proven by the Alpha Testers. It includes one Command and Control Module and 2 Detection Nodes.

Estimated delivery:Apr 2015

Only ships to: United States

You selected

$849 reward

0 backers

INTERNATIONAL TESTER: We will send you the 2nd generation 3-box model of the Personal Drone Detection System. This model has been proven by the Alpha Testers. It includes one Command and Control Module and 2 Detection Nodes.

Estimated delivery:May 2015

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$949 reward

0 backers

LARGER SYSTEM ARRAY: We will send you the 2nd generation 5-box model of the Personal Drone Detection System with one Command and Control Module and 4 Detection Nodes.

Estimated delivery:Apr 2015

Only ships to: United States

You selected

$1,200 reward

0 backers

LARGER INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM ARRAY: We will send you the 2nd generation 5-box model of the Personal Drone Detection System with one Command and Control Module and 4 Detection Nodes.

Estimated delivery:May 2015

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$1,990 reward

0 backers

SMALL INSTALLATION: We will send you the 2nd generation model of the Personal Drone Detection System with one Command and Control Module and 12 Detection Nodes.

Estimated delivery:May 2015

Only ships to: United States

You selected

$3,550 reward

0 backers

LARGE INSTALLATION: We will send you the 2nd generation Personal Drone Detection System with one Command and Control Module, 24 Detection Nodes and 1 Detection Node Hub.

Estimated delivery:May 2015

Only ships to: United States

Funding period

Jun 12, 2014 - Jul 15, 2014
(33 days)

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